Oral pathology: nasopalatine duct cyst: practice question

A Dentistry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Dentistry · Oral pathology: nasopalatine duct cyst

Sample item

A 40-year-old has an asymptomatic heart-shaped radiolucency in the anterior midline of the maxilla between the roots of vital central incisors. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Nasopalatine duct cyst

A midline radiolucency at the incisive canal with vital adjacent teeth indicates a nasopalatine duct cyst, the commonest non-odontogenic cyst of the jaws. Vitality testing excludes a radicular cyst.

Option by option

  • A. Nasopalatine duct cyst (correct)

    Correct. Incisive canal location and vital teeth point to this cyst.

  • B. Radicular cyst

    A radicular cyst arises from a non-vital tooth.

  • C. Globulomaxillary cyst

    A globulomaxillary lesion lies between the lateral incisor and canine.

  • D. Dentigerous cyst

    A dentigerous cyst surrounds the crown of an unerupted tooth.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is A, Nasopalatine duct cyst. A midline radiolucency at the incisive canal with vital adjacent teeth indicates a nasopalatine duct cyst, the commonest non-odontogenic cyst of the jaws.

Why is "Radicular cyst" not the answer?

A radicular cyst arises from a non-vital tooth.

Why is "Globulomaxillary cyst" not the answer?

A globulomaxillary lesion lies between the lateral incisor and canine.

Why is "Dentigerous cyst" not the answer?

A dentigerous cyst surrounds the crown of an unerupted tooth.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral pathology: nasopalatine duct cyst in Dentistry. Vitality testing excludes a radicular cyst.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Oral pathology: nasopalatine duct cyst?

Learn the dental formula, eruption ages and tooth structure once, as tables. Then use the flashcards and the other Dentistry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.